Former Iowa Hawkeye National Champion Mark Perry is in his first season as a collegiate coach. The two-time national champion and four-time All-American joined the Penn State staff in August of 2008.
[quote]We[apos]re very excited to add Mark to our coaching staff,[quote] Sunderland said. [quote]This is a man who has had great success as both an individual and team at Iowa. We are happy to welcome him to the Penn State wrestling family. I am confident his skills and wrestling knowledge will compliment and enhance our current staff, putting us in a position to achieve our goal of a national team championship.[quote]
Perry won the last two NCAA National Championships at 165 pounds. The Stillwater, Okla., native was a four-time All-American at Iowa where he helped lead the Hawkeyes to the NCAA team title this season. Perry[apos]s 25 points en route to his second individual crown were the most scored by any wrestler at Nationals this year. Perry became Iowa[apos]s 14th two-time National Champion this year and became a four-time All-American (the 17th Hawkeye to do so). He missed the entire Big Ten dual season with an injury but still posted a 20-3 season record and led the Hawkeyes in pins (12) and fastest pin (21 seconds).
As a freshman, he went 27-5 with a 12-2 dual record, took second at Big Tens and second at Nationals. As a sophomore, he went 21-4, 9-1 in duals, took second at Big Tens and third at Nationals. In 2006-07, the junior went 28-4, 16-3 in duals, won the Big Ten title and the NCAA Championship as well. Add last year[apos]s Big Ten runner-up finish and second NCAA title and Perry leaves Iowa as one of the school[apos]s most decorated and successful wrestlers.
[quote]Penn State has always been a program that I[apos]ve recognized as one of the nation[apos]s best,[quote] Perry continued. [quote]I[apos]m very excited to be a part of the Nittany Lion program. I can develop myself as a coach as well as help this program reach its goals. Pennsylvania is the proving ground for young wrestlers and I don[apos]t think I could be in a better situation. I[apos]ve had the chance to gain knowledge from some of the greatest minds in wrestling and I feel I have a lot to offer. I[apos]m confident that I can help Penn State reach its goal of winning the national title.[quote]